Trump 'Zapper' Claim Debunked

MAGA influencer Jayme Franklin has denied claims that she is using a device to keep President Donald Trump awake during public events. The claims emerged after a White House event where Trump appeared to close his eyes, sparking conspiracy theories that Franklin was behind the supposed device.

Jayme Franklin, the founder of the conservative lifestyle brand The Conservateur, was seen frequently placing her hands on her stomach alongside Trump during the event on Monday. Some clips of Trump during the event seemingly showed him with his eyes closed, prompting social media conspiracists to coin Franklin “the zapper” and speculate whether she was touching her stomach because she was installed with a device that would “zap” Trump if he fell asleep.

However, Franklin rejected the claims on X, stating that she is pregnant and her hand on her stomach is due to this. The incident occurred during an executive order signing, where President Trump appeared to close his eyes several times while Director of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, spoke. The executive order recommends separating the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three separate doses.

The MMR vaccine has been administered in a single dose for more than 40 years and has been rigorously studied. President Trump, who is 80 years old, frequently appears to close his eyes during public events, though it’s unclear if he’s actually sleeping. The White House has previously claimed that he closes his eyes because he is bored, blinking for an extended period, or relaxing.

## Why it matters The incident highlights the speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding President Trump's public appearances. The claims against Jayme Franklin are the latest example of how social media can fuel misinformation and speculation. As a prominent figure in the conservative movement, Franklin's denial of the claims is significant, and the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information before spreading it.

The executive order signed by President Trump has also sparked controversy, with some health experts warning that separating the MMR vaccine into three separate doses could increase the risk of infection between visits. The Health and Human Services Department has been directed to develop a plan for implementing the new vaccine recommendations.